40301 - QSAT-EOS

QSat is a microsatellite mission of Kyushu University (KU), Fukuoka, Japan. The project originated in mid-2005 as an initiative by graduate students of Kyushu University. At the time, JAXA encouraged Japanese universities to get involved in challenging self-defined small satellite projects and offered to launch some of the best developments as secondary payloads to its own missions.

The primary mission goal of QSat is the observation of the polar plasma regions, to study Earth's auroral zones for a better understanding of spacecraft charging with particular interest in polar and equatorial regions where FACs (Field-Aligned Currents) are always present. The goal is also to compare the field-aligned current observed in orbit with ground-based MAGDAS (MAGnetic Data Acquisition System) observations. Secondary objectives involve the education and research opportunities for students in an activity combining space sciences and satellite engineering, validation of space observations/components and techniques, as well as the cooperative environment of all parties in the project.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2014-11-06
Launch Vehicle: Dnepr
Launch Site: Yasni, Russia